Civil War Drama to Unfold at Village of Orland Park History Museum

ORLAND PARK, IL (November 1, 2016) -- Union Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Edward Ord will discuss the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox and the battles that led to it at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Village of Orland Park History Museum, 14415 S. Beacon Ave.

General Grant will be portrayed by Larry Werline and General Ord by Marc Finnegan, both seasoned general officer impressionists.

"This presentation promises to be a great one as the museum is bringing in historians who will bring this period to life for attendees," said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

The "generals" will be joined onstage by Loretta Finnegan, who will adopt the persona of her three-times great-grandmother who sent four sons off to war. Within 18 months, Ms. Finnegan said, three of those boys were killed. In the guise of her ancestor, Ms. Finnegan will speak to the audience on the customs of the day and, in particular, how Civil War-era women dealt with the wartime loss of their loved ones.

Werline, of Chatham, a suburb of Springfield, Ill., has been portraying General Grant since 1997 at Civil War re-enactment events and at schools, museums, historical groups, and Civil War roundtables. He is active in several Civil War-related organiza­tions including "Grant, Lee, Custer & Co.," a living history troupe of general officer impressionists. Werline said he feels it is important to represent the Civil War period accurately and to bring history to life for today's Americans.

Werline's fellow impressionists, Marc and Loretta Finnegan, reside in Plainfield, Ill., but are originally from Orland Park and Oak Forest.

The presentation is part of the Village of Orland Park History Museum Speakers' Series and is free and open to the public. Post-performance light refreshments will be provided by Nothing Bundt Cakes, Orland Park.